A contractor accused of making off with clients’ cash is facing criminal charges after he was caught on camera attacking a female customer who confronted him over an alleged $130,000 debt.
The disturbing footage shows Jeff McCreary, the owner of the now-defunct Vision Home Builders in Pennsylvania, repeatedly punch and shove the woman in an encounter outside the shuttered business, located just outside Bloomsburg.
He throttles her by grabbing her throat, rips a hat off her head, and pushes the unidentified woman to the ground, sending her sprawling onto the road.
The altercation reportedly transpired last week after the woman, Columbia County resident Amber Bradshaw, knocked on the office door looking for McCreary, in a bid to get back $130,000 she says she shelled out to the builder but never got back.
He also attacked a film crew that witnessed the attack, demanding they delete the footage while punching two journalists, footage shows.
The disturbing footage, shot by a reporter shows McCreary repeatedly punch, shove and choke former customer Amber Bradshaw (pictured in black )in an encounter outside the shuttered business, located just outside Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
The altercation reportedly transpired last Wednesday after Bradshaw, knocked on the office door looking for McCreary, in a bid to get back the substantial sum – which she says she shelled out to the builder but never got back
McCreary, visibly maddened by Bradshaw’s presence, is filmed repeatedly putting his hands on the woman, pressing his forearm against her neck and pouching her as she peacefully pled her case on the business’ front porch
The encounter comes more than two months after the contractor closed up shop without warning in April – spurring several jilted customers to come out of the woodwork and claim the contractor owed them for unfinished home improvement.
He has since turned himself into police, and is charged with assaulting the woman as well as a camera crew who witnessed and recorded the incident, while demanding they delete the footage.
He is also facing felony charges for scamming another customer out of more than $100,000.
Footage captured by Scranton news station WYOU shows the brutal attack in full, as a reporter who was also on the scene also attempted to speak – albeit, unsuccessfully – to the abusive builder.
Moments later, Bradshaw – several yards from the couple’s shuttered property – is again attacked, with McCreary running full force down a walkway and pushing the middle-aged woman to the ground.
McCreary’s wife can be heard gasping at that point in the footage, as Bradshaw falls to the pavement with such force that her flip-flops were thrust from her feet into the air
It was not clear if Bradshaw was injured as a result of the incident. She has since pressed charges against the homebuilder
‘You owe me $130,000! Know you owe me $130,000!’ Bradshaw can be heard yelling in the heart-raising clip, after pounding on the door in an effort to raise the elusive homeworker.
At that point in the footage, McReary and his wife exit the office the office – which at the time sported two signs that asserted, ‘No Trespassing: Keep Out,’ and, ‘Sorry we’re closed.’
McCreary moments before had ignored the WYOU reporter’s own knocks, but seemed particularly peeved by Bradshaw’s presence, and immediately began getting in the woman’s face.
He shouts repeatedly in the footage, ‘Get the hell out of here!’ as Bradshaw continues to record, seemingly dumbfounded by the builder’s behavior.
Bradshaw, however – adamant about getting back the alleged back payment – stood her ground.
McCreary, visibly maddened, then proceeds to put his hands on the woman, pressing his forearm against her neck as she peacefully pled her case on the business’ front porch.
All the while, Mcreary’s wife, Valerie, 56, can be seen also trying to push the woman away, while haphazardly trying to stop her husband from hurting Bradshaw.
‘You’re going to jail!’ the Bradshaw says after freeing her neck from the contractor’s grasp.
The assertion saw McCreary childishly shoot back: ‘No, you are!’
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Footage shows Jeff McCreary, the owner of the now-defunct Vision Home Builders in Pennsylvania, attacking a customer who confronted him over $130,000 of her money he allegedly made off with after suddenly closing up shop in April
At that point, as Bradshaw, now off the porch, continues to chide the contractor, spurring McCreary to raise his fits in a fighting stance, and punch Bradshaw, knocking the woman’s hat off her head.
McCreary’s wife can be seen trying to get between the pair, while also accosting Bradshaw, as the woman continues to insist she’s owed the substantial sum.
In response, McCreary, abnormally defensive, continues to menace the woman, and picks what looks to be a rock off the floor and throws it at her.
But the battery was far from finished.
Moments later, Bradshaw – several yards from the couple’s shuttered property – is again attacked, with McCreary running full force down a walkway and pushing the middle-aged woman to the ground.
McCreary’s wife can be heard gasping at that point in the footage, as Bradshaw falls to the pavement with such force that her flip-flops were thrust from her feet into the air.
It was not clear if she was injured as a result of the incident.
The footage then cuts out, but starts up again after McCreary turns his attention to the journalists who witnessed – and recorded – the incident, putting his hand in front of the reporters’ camera and attempting to hit it out of the cameraman’s hand.
At this point, the outlet did not know who the man was, and was trying to confirm his identity.
‘Can we ask you who you are sir?’ reporter Andy Mehalshick can be heard asking as McCreary angrily approaches and attempt to menace the group.
‘I’m the owner of the property,’ McCreary asserts, pushing the journalists away and repeatedly hitting the camera with considerable force.
‘My name is Andy Mehalshick – no reason for an assault – don’t get physical!’ Mehalshick frantically shouts in the clip while clutching his microphone.
‘I’m tired of this!’ McCreary shouts back, still pushing the journalists. ‘Get off, get off!’ he can be heard yelling, despite the group being dozens of yards from the office.
‘Don’t assault us!’ Mehalshick again pleads; to which McCreary replies, ‘Get off the property!’
Mehalshick, with audible fear in his voice, at that point shouts back: ‘We’re off the property!’
The contractor closed up the homebuilding business without warning in April – spurring several jilted customers to come out of the woodwork and claim the contractor owed them for unfinished projects
Since nixing his operations, McCreary – who sys he closed due to losses incurred during the pandemic – has been approached by several former customers demanding money – spurring the contractor to put signs on his shuttered office door to deter visitors
McCreary then begins to punch the camera as the crew continues to back away from the contractor, who at this point is engaging the journalists.
‘Erase that camera!’ he goes on to assert multiple times. ‘Erase that camera!’
Mehalshick proceeded to call the police as the confrontation continued.
McCreary yells: ‘You’re harassing!’
‘We are not harassing,’ Mehalshick insist back.
McCreary then accuses the outlet of targeting him with their coverage of the suspected scam, which McCreary chalked up to losses his business incurred during the pandemic.
‘You keep putting stuff online to get people to come after us!’ he asserts in the footage.
‘We are not harassing, we are trying to get your side of the story,’ Mehalshick replies.
McCreary proceeded to assault a reporter and camera operator who witnessed – and recorded – the incident, demanding they delete the footage
A warrant was issued for McCreary’s arrest last week, and according to district court officials, McCreary turned himself in at the Dauphin County booking center in Harrisburg Tuesday. He is charged with assaulting the woman as well as a camera crew, and is facing felony charges for scamming another customer out of more than $100,000
South Centre Township Police reportedly responded to the scene, where they interviewed Bradshaw. It is not clear if they spoke with McCreary and his wife at that point as well.
After speaking with cops, Bradshaw – seemingly uninjured – was able to recount some of the attack.
‘He came out in a rage threw me on the ground threw a rock at my car full out aggressive he and his wife,’ Bradshaw said.
McCreary was charged with assaulting both Bradshaw and Mehalshick, as well as Eyewitness News photographer L Bacerra, in connection with the incident.
He has since been jailed for allegedly duping another one of his customers out of more than $100,000 dollars.
The customer, Ron Herbst, said he and his partner signed a contract with Vision Home Builders in January to build a home near Gordon in Schuylkill County.
However, the project was left largely unfinished, with McCreary reportedly erecting only a foundation and walls – after being paid out by the pair.
‘The biggest question is where did our money go?’ Herbst asked WYOU earlier this week. ‘Where did that money that you drew go? What’s the next step we have walls that could collapse and fall in!’
Herbst said he and his partner filed a complaint with Lower Paxton Township Police , who filed three felony charges against McCreary, including, home improvement fraud, deceptive or fraudulent business practice, and theft by deception.
A warrant was issued for McCreary’s arrest last week, and according to district court officials, McCreary turned himself in at the Dauphin County booking center in Harrisburg on Tuesday.
McCreary has since been released on unsecured bail and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on July 13th in Harrisburg.
McCreary sent an email to customers in April when the business closed saying that he had no choice but to close because of the negative financial impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Vision has tried every way that we know possible to continue operating amid an increasingly dismal financial situation. Loss of revenue has crippled our ability to sustain homebuilding operations,’ he wrote at the time.
Several customers, including Bradshaw and Herbst, have since said the company owes them astronomical sums to the tune of tens – and in many cases, hundreds – of thousands of dollars.
Another couple claims the reportedly crooked contractor owes then $50,000 – an amount McCreary reportedly wanted to decrease by offering the pair a settlement.
Attorney Frank Kepner Jr. is representing the alleged victims of Vision Home Builders, as customers continue to demand money they say they paid McCreary.
‘I’m interested in helping anybody who wants to take any action to try and recoup the money,’ said Kepner.
Local contracting group Marr Development, based in Columbia County, is also working with customers to try and finish their homes, with aid from some other businesses in the area.
‘We also have some National and local suppliers that are coming forward I can name them Home Depot, John Coals, Tri-County Lumber.. they want to help us and give any kind of discounts they can to help customers out as much as possible,’ Marr Development Salve VP Todd Kern told WYOU.
Several customers have also filed complaints with the State Attorney Generals’ Office regarding the closure of Vision Home Builders.
It is not yet clear if McCreary will be charged for his alleged scam of Bradshaw.
His preliminary trial is scheduled for July 13.